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Saudi Billionaire Alwaleed: This End Of America Talk Is Baloney

Having said all that, with all that’s happening in the world, with all the attacks that we have under all these three, Islam, Arabism, and Saudism, I believe the biggest responsibility for me right now as a man who has God bless him a lot of wealth, lots of connections, nationally, regionally, and internationally, to use all that for the sake of getting committees, societies, and nations together closer. Yet, I’m still a business man. I do for profit. I would like to increase my wealth and the wealth of my shareholders on a continuous basis. And to blow back as much as I can back on the system, society, nationally, regionally, and internationally. Because our charities, and I say charities, and not charity because we have one nationally and one internationally. For example, we are the biggest contributor to Tsunami victims in Bangladesh, in Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. The biggest single after certain countries. For example, Somalia, we were the first to go there to assist and support. So really I feel proud of that.

Prince Alwaleed: I am being Muslim really, I want to say differentiate me from others, but really, it creates bigger responsibilities on roles and duties. For example, all those CEOs, I share, I talk to them. They feel comfortable talking to me and having views with me. Because they know I’m neutral. For example, I know Eric Schmidt of Google, my friend. Microsoft’s Bill Gates is my friend also. OK? Also, the lifetime of Jobs, Jobs was my friend. Another friend, Larry Ellison, who is the arch enemy of Microsoft, is also my friend. So really, News Corp, I’m a big investor there. Yet they compete with others also that I’m their friend also, Time Warner, et cetera. We never go public attacking any of our companies. If there’s any message, the message is sent to them privately.

Forbes: Privately?

Prince Alwaleed: Oh yes. And sometimes aggressively. But never public. Because I believe if you don’t believe in a company, you just sell your shares and pull out. You don’t invest in a company and harm them publicly. Sometimes things don’t go in the right direction. Like Citicorp for example.

Forbes: Yeah. Were you sending messages to them during that?

Prince Alwaleed: You better believe it, yes. I was just doing my best to have them get out of their quagmire and problems. And that’s why I meet them privately. And Vikram I think is doing a good job.

Forbes: So did you get Rupert to start tweeting, was that you?

Prince Alwaleed: I read about that. No, really. It was a nice coincidence. Murdoch, Rupert began tweeting just three days after my investment in Twitter. And people began associating that with me. Not really. Actually, if you want, I’m going to meet him tomorrow after 1:00. I will verify to you… I’ll ask him, “Why you began tweeting.” I’m sure not because of me.

Forbes: And why aren’t you on Twitter? I’m sure Dick Costolo is going to ask you why you aren’t tweeting?

Prince Alwaleed: At the right time I will be.

Forbes: It would be a great message. All these messages about moderation and neutrality.

Prince Alwaleed: No-no-no. I will be there eventually. I assure you. I’m not doing but I’ll do that. I’d be twittering. But also remember this, they over-politicized the matter when they said, “Twitter now began sanctioning because of my involvement.” That doesn’t make sense obviously. You know that? You heard about that. Really, they were going in with a very strict and narrow policy, essentially, for example, to block Nazism in Germany, or things that are really against the nation, or public safety in certain countries. I am for free speech, freedom of the press all the way. I’m against censorship completely. You can’t censor right now in the Internet era. It would be stupid to use that word. It’s mentally retarded to use that word. Censoring with Internet era? That’s over.

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Nice to hear from a uber-wealthy member of society. Perhaps this interview will inspire the Koch brothers to inform us on what makes them tick since they practically underwrite everything in the US. Prince Alaweed doesn’t seem too insulted by the fact that Murdoch’s Fox News is always on the forefront of provocative anti-Moslem sentiment. Alaweed’s endeavor to unite the three religions is extremely gladdening and so is his genuine concern for society.

RE: Zen of Steve Jobs I am the translator of the Japanese edition of “Zen of Steve Jobs”, which has been on sale in Japan since 02/24 by Shueisha International Publishing Company. Today, one Japanese magazine asked me to write the impression on the book as a translator. I believe that it will be helpful to sell the book. To write it, I would like to know the following issues. 1) How many countries publishes “Zen of Steve Jobs” in their own language? 2)All over the world, how many copies has been sold so far? I would very much appreciate it, if you would answer me.

Bruce, how about if you follow up your interview with Prince Alwaleed with the questions I raised about his donations to his faith? I think it is a question that not only inquires into accountability, but by its nature transforms it.

It’s kind of disappointing to hear someone like Waleed Bin Talal identify himself first as a Muslim, then an Arab, and last a Saudi–instead of the other way around. Religion is the most divisive issue in the Middle East, and non-Muslims (and non-Sunnis) are second-class citizens. His maternal grandfather, an architect of modern Lebanon, is a great example of someone who sought inclusion. He tried to unify that country’s many religious groups under one national identity.

Balancing one’s multiple identities is a difficult trick for mature people. Alwaleed is big supporter of his nation’s identity and clearly cares about his Saudihood. But there can always be underlying faith (assuming he’s totally sincere) that dominates national identity. It doesn’t have to transform it or weaken it. I consider myself usually an American first and then a Jew, but it really depends on the day (some days it’s Jew first). They work together. Do you think Saudi Arabia is going to get a type like alwaleed’s maternal grandfather again?

It is not only disappointing also shameless to hear someone like you work in FORBES Media say that something extremely unrealistic . You identify yourself first as a American , then an Christians, and last a Lebanese – instead of the other way around. Stop to act as you are non Arab and Lebanese . Regarding “Religion is the most divisive issue in the Middle East, and non-Muslims (and non-Sunnis) are second-class citizens” Who are you to say that on behalf of Muslims? Journalism ethics calls for being constantly fair and not have personal opinions. Muslims and Christians on Arab world are like brothers and sisters- there is no division and regarding non-Sunnis you know very well it is only politics not related with Religion.

We’re fortunate to live in the U.S., where we can freely express our identities. You can’t do that in many parts of the Middle East. At least, Bin Talal is tolerant and open. Saudi Arabia will never have someone like his Lebanese grandfather, but then it’s completely different than Lebanon. It has one official religion: Islam.

The ethnic cleansing via riot, persecution and outright murders of nearly all Jews in the Arab world excluding only Tunisia and Morocco (if you even call that the Arab world anymore, with its large Berber and Francophone populations…) isn’t already a fact of history?

My older family remember what life was like in Aleppo in 1947 before they fled. I have spoken with many survivors of the Iraqi farhood. I have MANY friends whose parents were expelled from Nasser’s Egypt and their property stolen. Indeed, as I sailed on the Nile last January shortly before the revolution, I got to see the Mosseri residence, the intact Nile property of people who live in my community today. Now known as the Russian Embassy (the Russians have no shame about living on stolen Jewish property either).

Don’t you DARE deny the crimes of the last century’s Arab governments AND POPULACES. There will always be those who refuse to let them be forgotten.

The Arab world is capable of moving past the abysmal horrors of the 20th century, but it must begin with equal rights for religious minorities, for women (will you claim that women are equal citizens in Saudi Arabia, too? Changing laws may give them the vote… but still not allow them to drive to it!), for ethnic minorities, AND political representation (and not for some show-parliament with no power) for all citizens. Not with people like you whining that criticizing these societies from within is just a sign of someone lacking Arab pride.